2. Contact Info

3. Dealer Selection

The Chevrolet Malibu is all-new for the 2013 model year, but so far it’s failed to wow the Motor Trend staff. Our First Drive of the Malibu Eco hybrid was met with disappointment in the car’s EPA rating as well as its high road noise and uninspired on-road behavior. My recent experience in a 2.5-liter version left me relatively unimpressed. I thought the car rode well enough and was reasonably quiet at highway speeds, but the naturally aspirated engine felt relatively gutless, and rear seat room was abysmal compared with many others in the midsize segment.

But still, we had hope. Chevrolet had promised a top-rung Malibu variant with the ‘T’ word in its name — automakers know that journalists all get giddy at the mere suggestion of the ‘T’ word — and now it’s here. In fact, the first Malibu Turbos have just been shipped to dealers and should be in showrooms as you read this. With GM’s new 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, Chevy says that the Malibu Turbo should vanquish all previous disappointments in the power department.

The engine is the same basic unit found in the Cadillac ATS 2.0T. With different exhaust requirements and a front-drive chassis, the twin-scroll 2.0-liter engine makes slightly less power than it does in the more expensive Caddy. Still, output is strong at 259 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. GM’s next-gen six-speed automatic transmission gets the power to the front wheels, and Chevy claims a 6.3-second sprint from 0 to 60 mph. Keep your foot on it and Chevy says the Malibu Turbo has a top speed of 155 mph — just 2 mph shy of a 2013 Camaro SS 1LE. The car is EPA rated at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

Turbo models are only equipped with Chevy’s upper LT and LTZ trim packages, both of which include standard 18-inch wheels, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, remote start, dual-zone climate control, and Chevy’s MyLink 7-inch touch screen interface with Bluetooth connectivity. Opt for the LTZ package and the cloth seats make way for leather with front seat heaters. LED taillights are also added, while 19-inch wheels are an option. Prices start at $27,710 for the LT model, and a Chevy rep told us that loaded with every available option, the Malibu Turbo tops out somewhere around $33,000. Turbo sales are expected to account for roughly 15 percent of all Malibu production, the volume car obviously being the 2.5-liter, naturally aspirated version. Oddly, there is nothing – not even a subtle ‘Turbo’ badge — to distinguish this version from the standard car. That’s something that could change in the near future, according to Chevy.

We took the Malibu Turbo for a 30-mile drive through the hills of Novato, California, and came away impressed with the car’s newfound power. The 2.0-liter engine has good torque delivery with a strong punch that really kicks in the mid-range of the rev band. Chevy says that 90 percent of the 2.0-liter’s torque is available from just 1700 rpm, though power does taper off beyond 5500 rpm — a good thing, as the engine gets noisy by then. Freeway cruising is effortless and quiet, with well-suited gearing.

The rest of the Malibu feels similar to the last 2.5-liter car we had in the office. The ride is fairly well-controlled and quiet. The 2.0-liter’s torque means the Hydra-matic 6T70 six-speed transmission is a little less busy than it is with the lesser-powered engine, with less frequent downshifts and less time spent with the engine buzzing away at high rpms. Like the standard Malibu, paddle shifters are not available, forcing drivers to make do with the nearly unusable lever-mounted manual shift button.

Chevy’s new MyTouch system is mounted high on the Malibu’s Piano Black center stack, and appears to work well enough with controls for a paired telephone, assorted media, radio, and optional navigation. It’s nothing flashy and manages basics with average graphics and a fairly straightforward interface. The display can be raised to give access to a small storage cubby, revealing some fairly cheap-feeling hinges with excess lateral movement. (We checked three cars, and all felt the same.) An available safety package includes such features as lane-departure warning and collision warning systems. Interior room is unchanged, of course, meaning that rear head- and legroom remains disappointing for adults.

A strong engine doesn’t necessarily make a strong car, but the Malibu does benefit from the addition of a Turbo model. With plenty of power, a comfortable ride, and a few conveniences, buyers without much need for rear seat room should find plenty to like.

Safety (IIHS)

2013 Chevrolet Malibu News and Reviews

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